Mount Dora Interviews 2nd Cable Tv Consultant

MOUNT DORA — City officials Tuesday interviewed the second of two cable television consultants who have applied to do a feasibility study for a proposed city-run system.

Tom Miller, representing Cosmic Communications Inc., Valparaiso, told city officials the city's population density, potential growth and ownership of the power poles are all advantages if the city decides to build its own system.

But Miller said competition from the existing cable company, Lake County Cablevision, which is planning to improve its system, would be a disadvantage. He said the feasibility study would include a conservative assessment of what the city could expect if a municipal system were started.

''It's not that complicated an industry,'' said Miller, who said cities increasingly are looking at providing cable service. He said his company, which specializes in public cable systems, has done four feasibility studies similar to the one Mount Dora has requested. All recommended going ahead with a city-owned system.

Miller said the primary difference between a private cable company and a municipal system is that private companies concentrate on a return for their investment while cities concentrate on providing a service. Miller said the situation in Mount Dora is different because it has an existing cable system that would be competing against the city system.

City officials last week met with a representative of a Virginia company also interested in conducting the feasibility study.

City officials are expected to discuss the study at next Tuesday's council meeting. Officials said they may be ready to pick a consultant then or may decide to readvertise for more responses.

City officials have been talking about starting their own cable system for more than two years because they say they can provide more services at a lower cost than a private cable company.